Huge explosion rattles East suburb
There were three gas bottles, but luckily, only one had gas in it, which exploded.
Silverton residents got a fright when “a huge explosion” was heard around 22:50 on Saturday night when a 3kg gas bottle exploded.
“The explosion happened in Silverton extension 5, more specifically, Voëltjiedorp,” said DA-councillor Ben Chapman of ward 41, “and was reported widely.”
Charles Mabaso, spokesperson for Tshwane Emergency services, said they received a call around 22:58 when it was reported that a gas bottle exploded.
“Emergency resources were activated to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the fire had already been extinguished, and nothing was in danger, and as such no active fire fighting was carried out.”
He said the exact cause of the explosion of the gas bottle was unclear at that stage and a safety officer was assigned to investigate the same.
According to the owner of a Bleshoender Street property, Tertia van Wyk, a tenant on the property made a fire on some wooden structure and tiles, not knowing there were gas bottles underneath.
“There were three gas bottles, but luckily, only one had gas in it, which exploded. It was a 3kg bottle,” Van Wyk said.
“The tenant said he wanted to braai, and did not know exactly what happened.
“No one was hurt, but the property suffered some damage.
“I felt the shock wave vibrating through my entire body. Glass windows from houses in the neighbourhood were shattered as well,” Van Wyk said.
Van Wyk said their windows were shattered, their electric fence was damaged and there was a hole in the wall, “even an aluminium door frame was partly blasted out of the wall from the pressure wave the explosion created”.
She said a neighbour assisted in extinguishing the fire, and police also responded.
The explosion has apparently been heard as far as Queenswood, Van Wyk said.
Juan-Lee Olivier, a resident in the next street, said they thought they were under attack.
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